Suffield Veterinary Hospital

July 2007 Patient of the Month

          Meet Sancho, the first cat of Chris and Kerry Nigohossian who have lived on Main Street in Suffield since September of 2003 when they started bringing their 10 rescued cats to the Suffield Veterinary Hospital for care. At the honorable age of 24, Sancho has the distinction of being our oldest feline patient.

Sancho has led a very colorful life. He was born in Bulgaria on December 10, 1983 and adopted by 12 year old Chris Nigohossian in January of 1984. Sancho and his new family were about to emigrate to the United States and immediately moved to Vienna Austria where they spent 6 months before moving to Queens in New York. Due to importation rules the family had to relinquish Sancho to the North Shore Animal League of Long Island and then readopt him 30 days later for a fee after all his vaccinations and other basic veterinary needs were completed.

Sancho has challenged his many cat lives through adventures over the years. When the family moved to Manhattan in 1991 he disappeared for 15 days when the former neighbors in Queens called to say that he was back at the old house 23 miles away. He also fought with a raccoon and won, swallowed a sewing needle and thread of 15 inches and passed it needle and all. Another time he was not so lucky and needed a long thread removed surgically form his intestines. Sancho and Chris drove cross country to Arizona and back. He also had to be evacuated from New York after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers. The family then lived on the water on Long Island where Sancho’s carefree outdoor days ended when he nearly lost his life to several raccoons, saved by a broom wielding Kerry Nigohossian.

This past spring Sancho presented weakening, dehydrated and losing weight. Dr. diagnosed him in an advanced state of renal disease. The Nigohossians and Dr. Herrman agreed that Sancho still had quite a will to live and after a short 3 day hospital stay on IV fluids, Sancho is now home with progressively improving kidney function. He needs some diligent care to which the Nigohossians and Sancho have adapted quite well, and they are looking forward to more adventures and reflection time together.

In deference to his advanced age, the talented photographer from Motophoto made a "house call" to take this portrait of our most senior citizen. For reminding us that life is full of surprises, and to cherish every day, we are proud to name Sancho our Suffield Veterinary Hospital Patient of the Month.

Suffield Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Ann Huntington - Dr. Anita Sabellico - Dr. Dawn Burke

 Dr. Jean Herrman – Dr. Tracy Powell

577 East Street South (Route 159), Suffield, CT 06078 (860) 668-4041